Apparatus for baling paper pulp



`April 14, 1936. c. M. l'vlewcHEsNlaY- APPARATUS FOR BALING PAPER PULP Filed April 18, 1952 2 sheets-sheet 1 Eu/anion' C/Lese?1 M MMC/Loes Qk- NK. .WQ INNN. N@ WA@ MR. NNN b.

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Filed April 18, 1932 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 NNN. NNN

Patented Apr. 14, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE APPARATUS Fon BALING PAPERA PULP tion of Illinois Application April 18, 1932, Serial No. 605,830

Y 2 Claims.

This invention relates to apparatus for baling paper pulp and the like and its purpose is to provide an improved and more eicient apparatus by which a iiexible binder may be inserted through a body of pulp and drawn taut around a portion of the pulp to form a bale. The present invention relates to the class of inventions described and claimed in the co-pending application of John Ekern Ott Serial No. 588,318, filed January 23, 1932.

The principal object of the invention is to provide an improved baling apparatus comprising means for compacting and moving an elongated mass of pulp in combination with a hollow needle which may be inserted through the pulp to permit flexible binders to be then threaded through the needle so that when the needle is withdrawn, the exible binders are in position to be passed around units of the pulpin the succeeding operations of forming the completed bale. Other object-s relate to various features of construction and arrangement which will appear more fully hereinafter.

The nature of the invention will be understood from the following specification taken with the accompanying drawings, in which one form of the improved apparatus is illustrated. In the drawings,

Fig. 1 shows a side elevation of one form ofthe improved apparatus adapted for use in practicing the method of the present invention;

Fig. 2 shows a horizontal section taken on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the completed bale;

Fig. 4 shows an enlarged transverse section taken longitudinally through one of the needles, showing the method of threading the exible binders through the hollow needle;

Fig. 5 is a transverse section on an enlarged scale taken on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal section taken through a modified form of needle; and

Fig. 7 is a longitudinal section taken through still another form of needle.

As illustrated in the drawings, the apparatus comprises a frame I0 having a pair of longitudinal frame members II in the form of I-beams which are adapted to rest upon the oor or other support. A casing I2 is secured to the upper flanges of these frame members II midwaybetween their ends and this casing is adapted to receive the loose paper pulp through a hopper I3. The casing I2 has mounted therein a reciprocating piston I4 which is adapted to engage the pulp (ol. V10o-20) in the casing and thereby compact it while at the same time forcing it from the casing into the elongated chute I5 through which the compacted pulp passes during the operation of forming it into bales. The piston I4 is operated by a piston rod I'I which is connected to a crank pin I8 eccentrically mounted between two large gears I9 which are secured on shafts 20 journaled in bearings 2I xed on the frame members II and these gears are driven by pinions 22 xed on a shaft 23. The shaft 23 is journaled in bearings 24 carried bythe frame members II and a comparatively large gear 25 is secured tothe outer end of this shaft to' be driven by a pinion 26 secured on the shaft 21. The shaft 21 is journaled in bearings 28 carried by the frame members II and it has a flywheel pulley 29 secured thereon to be driven by a sprocket belt 3l] passing around a pulley 3l xed on the shaft of an electric motor 32. The mechanism for compacting the pulp may be started and stopped by starting and stopping the motor 32 and the speed of the compacting operation may be regulated by varying the motor speed. In addition, a friction clutch 33 may be connected in the train of mechanism between the motor and the gears I9 and this clutch is arranged to be operated through a shaft 34 which extends alongside the forward frame member II and has an operating lever 35 on the end thereof adjacent the hopper I3. The lever 35 may be locked in position by a detent engaging a quadrant 36 and in this'y way the operator is enabled to control the operation of the piston I4 from a position where he can view the pulp in the casing I2.

'Ihe chute I5 has a stationary bottom wall 40 formed by a pair of fiat metal plates which are secured to the upper sides of the frame members II, as shown particularly in Fig. 5. The side walls 4I ofthe chute I5 are formed of a series of flat plates 42 which are spaced apart to leave slots 43 extending parallel to each other long'itudinally of the chute. The upper and lower plates 42 of each side wall are parts of angle bars `44 and the intermediate plates 42 are parts of T-b'ars 45. The bars 44 and 45 are connected at their forward ends to the rear end of the casing I2 byV means of hinges 46 so that the rear ends of the side walls may be swung inwardly to cause the walls to converge toward their rear ends for the purpose of further compacting the pulp as it is moved along the chute. In order to effect the adjustment of the side wall members about the hinges46, the bars 44 and 45 are connected together in pairs on each side of the wall, the horizontal ange of the lower beam 44 being connected through a bracket 41 with the web ofthe next adjacent T-beam 45 while the ange of the upper angle bar 44 is similarly connected by a bracket 41 to the web of the upper T-bar 45. The brackets 41 are rotatably engaged by the inner ends of adjusting screws 48 which threadedly engage the side walls of yokes 49 and which are provided at their outer ends with squared portions 48a adapted to be engaged by a wrench or the like, The yoke 49 has the lower ends of its side arms pivotally connected at 50 to brackets 5I which are secured to the frame members and by adjusting the screws 48, the side plates 42 which form the side Walls may be adjusted inwardly or outwardly to Vary the degree of compression to which the pulp is subjected as it is moved rearwardly along the chute.

'Ihe top wall of the chute |5 is formed by a plate 52 which is carried by a number of T-beams 53 extending longitudinally of the chute Vand having their webs attached to angle bars 54. 'Ihe angle bars 54 are engaged by adjusting members 55 which threadedly engage apertures in the upper cross members of the yokes 49 and which may be turned for the purpose of varying the elevation of the top wall 52 or for causing it to incline downwardly toward the rear end of the chute. `In this way, the spaced relation of the top wall and the bottom wall 40 may be varied to regulate the cross-sectional dimensions of the bale and to vary the compression thereof under the influence of the piston |4.

The rear ends of the slots 43 which are formed between the plates of the side walls of the chute are preferably occupied by friction plates or shoes 68 which are mounted at their rear ends on pivots 6| carried by brackets 62 xed on the bars 44 and 45. These bars 60 have their forward ends 59a curved outwardly for the purpose of permitting the flexible binder to pass inwardly thereover as the pulp is moved rearwardly in the manner hereinafter described. In order to adjust the pressure with which these friction shoes engage the exible binders, they are adapted to be adjusted inwardly about their pivots 6| and this is eifected by adjusting screws 63 which threadedly engage lugs 64 formed on the bars 44 and 45 which bear at their inner ends on the outer sides of the friction shoes, Y

For the purpose of passing the flexible binders through the body of pulp as it moves rearwardly through the chute, the apparatus is provided with a plurality of hollow needles 10 which are carried by a cylinder 1| extending transversely to the longitudinal axis of the chute. The inner ends of the needles 10 are secured to a hollow piston 12 which is adapted to move within the cylinder and which is formed of two parts united by bolts 13. The piston has piston rings 14 engaging the inner wall of the cylinder, and it is adapted to travel from one end of the cylinder to the other in projecting the needles through the chute and withdrawing them therefrom.

The cylinder is closed at its outer end by a head 15 and at its inner end it is closed by a head 16 which is provided with apertures 11 through which the needles 19 are adapted to slide. Packing chambers 18 are formed in the head 16 around the needles and the packing material in these chambers is compressed by packing glands Y 19 which are forced inwardly by adjustable studs 80. The needles 19 are located in registry with the slots 43 in the side Walls of the chute so that when the piston 12 is forced to the inner end of the cylinder 1|, the needles are caused to pass through the slots 43 on both walls of the chute and thus penetrate the mass of pulp which is traveling rearwardly along the chute.

The movement of the piston 12 within the cylinder 1| is adapted to be effected by fluid pressure which is supplied through a iiexible conduit leading to a pipe 8|. This pipe leads into a four-way valve 82 which is controlled by a handle 82a.` Pipes 83 and 84 lead from the valve 82 to passages 85 which are formed in bosses 86 carried by the outer and inner ends of the cylinder, respectively, and these passages communicate with the cylinder through ports 81. When the handle 82a is in one position, the pipe 82 is connected with one of the pipes 83 or 84 and at the same time the other pipe, 84 or 83, is connected with an exhaust pipe 88 which leads from the valve casing 82 to the atmosphere. For the purpose of controlling the exhaust of compressed air or other fluid from one extreme end of the cylinder at the time that compressed air or the like is admitted to the other end of the cylinder, and. thereby providing a cushion for the piston at the end of its stroke, the bosses 86 areprovided with passages 89 which are inclined upwardly away from the passages 85 and which have U-shaped bends 89at in the upper parts thereof to communicate with downwardly inclined portions 89b which communicate with the chamber of the cylinder through recesses 90 which are formed in the heads of the cylinder. The communication through each passage 89 is controlled by a needle valve 9| having a threaded engagement with the upper part of the boss 86 and being secured in adjusted position by a lock nut 92. When the piston 12 passes a port 81 toward either end of the cylinder, the exhaust of air or the like from that end of the cylinder through the port 81 is closed, with theresult that the remaining portion of air or the like in the end of the cylinder is trapped and can escape only through the adjacent restricted passage 89. This escape of air is gradual and may be regulated as desired by the needle valve 9| so that the piston may be gradually brought to rest at eachend of the stroke without undue shock to the cylinder or any of its parts. When the valve 82 is reversed, the compressed fluid is at first admitted to the last-mentioned end of the cylinder through the passage 89 and this forces the piston in the reverse direction until it passes the adjacent port 81, whereupon there is a direct flow of compressed uid into the cylinder for moving the piston toward the oppo-site end of the cylinder, where the same cushioning action is again effected after the piston closes the other port 81 and entraps the air at the other end of the cylinder except for the gradual escape which is permitted through the other passage 89.

Since the needles 18 are adapted to be forced through the pulp while the pulp is in motion along the chute, the cylinder 1| is movably mounted so that it may move with the pulp. For this purpose, the cylinder 1| is provided on its under side with anges which are connected by bolts 95 to a needle carriage |00 which is adapted to travel longitudinally of the machine on tracks 0| carried by brackets or frame members |02 which extend outwardly from one of the side frame members as shown in Fig. 5. The needle carriage is of rectangular form comprising longitudinal members |96 connected by transverse members |01 `and at each corner of this carriage three cylindrical rollers are provided to bear upon the track members IOI The members |06 of the carriage are of channel form as shown in Fig. 5 and these channels have mounted therein at each end a roller |08 which is adapted to revolve about ball bearings |09 carried by a shaft I which is fixed in the walls of the carriage member. These rollers |00 are adapted to travel upon the upperv horizontal surfaces of track members IOI. In addition, the carriage |00 is provided with` depending integral bracket portions II2 which are provided with channels or recesses in which are located other cylindrical rollers I I3 adapted to bear upon the vertical lianges |0|a of the track members |0I. These rollers I I3 are similarly mounted to revolve'about ball bearings carried by shafts I I4. On their inner sides, the track members |0I are provided with inclined portions I0 IIO which are engaged by other rollers II5 mounted within adjustable brackets |I6. These rollers similarly revolve about ball bearings carried by shafts mounted in the brackets. The brackets IIB are secured to the under sides of the transverse members I0'l of the carriage |00 by means of studs I I'I engaging elongated slots therein. These slots permit the adjustment of the brackets so that the rollers I|5 have a close engagement with the inclined portions of the track members I0! and they are held against movement, after being adjusted, by means of the screw threaded adjusting members 8 which engage the ends of the brackets and which are arranged so that their heads bear on opposite sides of lugs H9 extending downwardly from the carriage. In this way, the carriage |00 on which the cylinder 'Il is mounted, is firmly supported so that the cylinder maintains a rigid position under the influence of the thrusts which are imparted thereto when the needles are forced through the pulp in the chute and at the same time the cylinder is permitted to move rearwardly with the travel of the pulp. After a predetermined rearward movement of the needle carriage, the needles are withdrawn and the carriage is moved forwardly in readiness for the insertion of the needles at another point.

The needles 10 are pointed at their outer ends as shown at 10a and they are provided with cylindrical bores 70h extending throughout their length, as shown in Fig. 4. Assuming that a body of pulp has been compacted and is beingV moved intermittently rearward along the chute by the action of the piston I4, the operator admits compressed air to the outer end of the cylinder 'II to force the piston 'I2 inwardly and thereby cause the needle 10 to be thrust inwardly through the slots in the walls of the chute and through the body of the pulp |20 therein. The needles then occupy the position shown in Figs. 2 and 5 and while they are held stationary in this position, the operator then threads into each needle a flexible binder |2| and the end portion of another flexible binder |22, which may preferably be iiat steel straps. If a iiat steel strapping is used for binding purposes, the bores of the needles I'I0b may preferably be rectangular in cross-section with their longer dimensions extending vertically. After the iirst operation, the binder |2| will be one which has previously been inserted through the mass of pulp and which has been partially drawn taut around one unit |20a of the pulp while the binder I 22 threaded into each needle will be one intended for passage around the next following unit |20b of the pulp. As shown in Fig. 2, a third unit |20c of the pulp rthrough the pulp mass.

has previously .been `bound by iiexible binders |23.. :Assuming that the operation is at the stage illustrated in Fig. 2, the next step is to thread the free end |2|a of the binder I2| and one end portion |-22a of the binder |22 into each hollow needle 'I0 and this threading operation is carried on until the ends of the binders reach the inner end of the bore of each needle, as illustrated in Fig. 4. rI-he operatorthen admits compressed air to the inner end of the cylinder whereupon the needles 10 are withdrawn from the pulp,

thereby leaving the binders |2I and |22 in theirV proper positions passing transversely through the pulp adjacent to each other.r With the apparatus illustrated, there will be three binders I2 and three binders |22 `with two binders passing through the aperture made by one needle. When the needles have been withdrawn, the end |2|2L of eachl binder I12I and the other end |2|b of each of these binders are brought together and drawn taut, and then the overlapping ends of each binder are secured together by any suitable means, such as metallic seals |25, which may be of the form described and claimed in the patent to Ralph H. Norton No. 1,260,016, dated March 19, 1918; By the time the seals |25 have been applied, the unit I20arwill have been carried rearwardly along the chuterand will then have the appearance of the bound unit |20e illustrated in Fig. 2. Before the next following unit |20b of the pulp passes into the space between the friction shoes." 00, the operator will draw the bands or binders |22 through the pulp to a greater extent than was permitted by the length of the needles I0 so that as the unit |20b of the pulp continues its rearward travel, each binder |22 will have a considerable length at each side of the chute and these free ends of the strap are then engaged by the friction shoes 60 so that as the unit of pulp travels along the chute, these shoes draw the binders taut around the pulp until they occupy substantially the positions illustrated in connection with the binders |2| in Fig. 2. The next operation is to cause the needles 'I0 to be again inserted through the pulp after which the free ends of the binders on opposite sides of the chute from the cylinder are inserted into the needle as before along with the free ends of new binders preliminary to withdrawing the needles and thereby locating the straps in the apertures which have been formed thereby In this way, each operation of the needle is utilized for effecting a second threading through the pulp of three binders which have previously been passed through the pulp at a point spaced rearwardly therefrom and also for threading through the pulp three binders which are to be utilized in binding the next following unit of the pulp. By means of these hollow needles, iiexible binders may be readily threaded through the pulp without frictional resistance and the speed of operation is thereby greatly increased. It will be apparent that except for the lines of separation which are formed by the holes made by the needles, each unit of the pulp mass remains attached to the next adjacent unit until it reaches the rear end of the chute and is projected outwardly to such a position that the line of division between two pulp units is beyond the walls of the chute. The bound unit which is thus projected from the chute may then be broken 01T from the mass, by the action of gravity or by the application of force, to form the completed separated bale shown in Fig. 3.

In Fig. 6 of the drawings there is' illustrated a modified form of needle I3! which may be substituted for the needles 10 illustrated in connection with the form of apparatus heretofore clescribed. This needle is a straight hollow needle having an enlarged head |30a which is tapered to a point as shown at |301 and provided with a restricted opening lill)c therethrough to receive the strap or other exible binder which is inserted into the needle, in the manner illustrated in Fig. 4, for the purpose of projecting the binder through the pulp While the needle is inserted therethrough. The needle having the enlarged head |30a has the advantage that there is less friction developed. by the operation of forcing it through the pulp and it may be more readily inserted and withdrawn than a needle which .is of the same diameter throughout.

In Fig. 'l of the drawings, there is illustrated another modied form of needle Hl which is capable of substitution for the needles l0. This needle also has an enlarged head HHn which is tapered on both sides of the large portion thereof and which terminates at its end in a sharp point l3lb. This form of needle has an enlarged passage I3Ic, through which the strap is inserted into the needle, opening through the side of the tapered point of the head of the needle, as shown at I3 Id. This permits the pulp to be more readily penetrated by the needle and eiectively eliminates any diiculty arising from the clogging of the bore of the needle .by small lparticles of pulp.

Although one form of the improved apparatus has been illustrated and described in connection with several forms of the needle, it will be understood that the apparatus may be constructed in various forms, falling Within the 'scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. The combination in apparatus for baling paper pulp, of an elongated .chute having longitudinal slots in its opposite walls, means for forming and moving through said chute a mass of paper pulp, a hollow `needle movable transversely of said chute through said slots for penetrating the pulp therein, and means located in said slots for frictionally engaging a binder and holding it against the pulp during the travel thereof after it has been inserted through said pulp by threading it through said hollow needle.

2.. 'I'he combination in apparatus for baling paper pulp, of a chute, means for forming and CHESTER M. MACCHESNEY.

CERTIFCATE OF CORRECTION.

Patent NO. 2,057,249. April 14, 1936.

CHESTER M. MaCCHESNEY.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patent requiring correction as follows: In the grant, line 6, title of invention, foi" the Word. "BAILING" read BALING; page 4, second column, line l?, claim i, strike out "it" and insert instead the Words said binder; and that the said Letters Patent should be read with these Corrections therein that the Same may conform to the record of the Gase in the Patent Office.

Signed and sealed this 19th day of May, A. D. 1936.

Leslie Frazer Acting Commissioner of Patents.

(Seal) 

